A/N - So it's almost done. I don't want it ot be but it is. I am working on the last part as I write this, which I will hoprfully post tonight after work. The last two chapters have been a breeze to write and I hope that you have enjoyed where I have taken you in this story. As always reviews are welcome...
Chapter Five - You Oughta Be In Love
It was the best and worst twelve weeks of his whole life. He had never been put into a situation where he loved and hated something at the same time, so it was difficult the first time around. He missed Hunter terribly and kept finding himself in her position under the peach tree, which was now not quite so small. It had grown in leaps and bounds in the last couple of months and Booth could see the buds that would become peaches by the time Christmas rolled around. Hunter wrote regularly as well as phoned once a week but not even hearing her voice could make him miss her any less. Parker was driving him crazy, drilling him over when his big sister was coming back from camp. He knew that the camp was the perfect place for her, but he wished that he could be selfish and keep her at home forever, where he could enjoy her company. There was a bonus to her being away though. Since that night after Hunter's birthday party, the night that their friendship became something much more, he and Temperance had rarely been apart. Hunter and Parker accepted this in their stride and when he had quizzed Hunter, asking her if she was ok with the situation, she had all but laughed in his face.
"Dad, she's been here since the beginning. She's been part of the family for a long time now. You just needed to make it more official."
Bit by bit, he sacrificed more and more of his wardrobe and draw space until they both realized that Temperance having two homes was utterly ridiculous and so with a quite air of excitement, they had moved in the last of her stuff. Angela had all but screamed when they finally told her that they had moved in together, hugging them both before going off muttering about collecting money that people owed her. He loved having so much time with Temperance but he missed Hunter with a hunger that was usually reserved for Parker. So when the invitation for the film festival finally arrived, Booth had to stop himself from driving down to the camp the moment he had it in his hot little hands. There were restricted seating so only parents or guardians were expected to attend and Hunter had made the invitation out to him and Temperance, again cementing their relationship. When he had told Temperance the invitation had arrived, she gave him a secret smile and resumed doing the laundry. Booth knew that she had been keeping something from him for weeks, and after assuring him that it was not a bad thing, in fact it was good, he had relaxed a little. It was driving him crazy but at least he knew that it was the good kind of surprise. He now just had to wait on pins and needles for one more week before he got to see Hunter's film, know what the surprise is and get to hold his little girl again.
He spotted Hunter amongst the group of teenagers and was surprised just how much she had changed in twelve weeks. She had gotten a whole lot taller, her arms and legs gangly and out of proportion with the rest of her. Her hair had gotten a whole lot longer and her face had filled out slightly, she had put on some much needed weight. She looked happy and healthy. He kept himself at a slight trot as he approached her, pulling her into a tight hug, inhaling her familiar scent, which was now induced with country air and sunshine.
"I missed you."
Hunter, who didn't seem to care that her friends were watching the pair closely, hugged Booth back, her face buried in his chest.
"I missed you too Dad. Where's Tempe?"
"Parking the car. I couldn't wait to see you. Parker sends you his love. He wanted me to give you this."
Booth pulled out a picture and letter that Parker had shoved in his pocket before they had left, his face serious as he made his father promise to give it too her as soon as he got to the camp.
"He so wanted to come."
"I know. But I didn't think he could sit still for thirty-two films. Hey Tempe!"
Hunter ran and threw her arms around Temperance, who had just come over the clearing, her smile bright as she returned Hunter's enthusiastic hug, kissing the top of her head, which now sat just under her chin.
"Jeez you've gotten tall."
Hunter blushed before she glanced at Booth.
"Dad can I talk to Tempe for a second?"
"Sure."
"You can talk to Andrew if you like."
"Who's Andrew?"
Hunter gave him a sweet smile as a tall boy with floppy brown hair stepped forward.
"My boyfriend."
Booth hated the boy instantly, purely out of principle. He shook the boy's hand and began to drill him, somehow knowing that this will not be the last boy that he would ever do this too.
Temperance followed Hunter down the slope, away from her father and group of friend's, sitting on the cool green grass next to her.
"How can I help?"
"I need a favour."
"Really?"
Hunter chewed her lip as she concentrated hard on her shoes, her words coming out in a rush.
"IgotmyperiodandIneedtogetsomepadswhenIgethomeaswellasatraingbraandIwaswonderingifyoucouldcomeandhelpme."
Temperance laughed.
"Sorry Hunter but you're going to have to slow down. Start again."
"I got my period."
"Congratulations. I think."
Hunter flushed slightly as her eyes finally met Temperance's.
"And I got boobs. They came out of nowhere. I was wondering if when we got home we could go and do some shopping for some girl things."
Temperance smiled and put her arm around Hunter.
"Sure honey. Do you have the stuff you need now?"
Hunter nodded.
"Yeah one of the girls in my cabin has had her period for over a year and she gave me something's to use. Just promise me you won't tell dad, ok?"
"I promise. So have you enjoyed camp?"
Hunter nodded, a grin coming over her face.
"I love it here. I wish I could stay. But I want to go home too. Dad said that mom's peach tree is big now."
"Yeah it is. We should have peaches by Christmas. How about you Parker and I make some crumbles and preserve some when they are ready? That way we can eat them all year."
"Sounds good."
Temperance stood and pulled Hunter up to stand beside her.
"We had better get up there before your father does something to that boyfriend of your's."
Hunter laughed and they walked side-by-side back up the slope in time to see Booth laughing at something Andrew said.
Booth had settled himself in a seat between Hunter and Temperance, holding hands with both of them as parents finally sorted themselves out with their seats. When all were seated, an older looking woman came onto the stage, her hair pulled back by a colourful bandana, her legs long and brown beneath her pink shorts. She looked a lot younger then Booth suspected she actually was.
"Welcome parents to Dylan Spielberg film camp. Today and tomorrow you will see the results of the twelve weeks of hard work that all of your children have had to endure while here. They had to either produce a documentary or a movie, write their own scripts, edit and finalise their projects. They also had to come up with a name for their production company, as well as a logo for them to be represented by. It's not as easy as it sounds and it was through pure hard work and dedication that each project was made. As you all know, the products will be judged by three judges who are very involved in the film industry. They will pick the top four films and the students who made them get exclusive scholarships to the Arnold Collins Film Academy."
This got a burst of applause from some of the parents but all the kids who were chattering excitedly.
"So please sit back and enjoy the hard work that your children have been involved in."
The room darkened and the first film began to roll. It was a murder mystery that had a rather complex plot and Booth found himself enjoying it immensely. The next was a romance, as was the one after that. The next production logo gave the maker away. It was a sun with bold writing across the centre that read 'Redman/Booth Productions' and Booth could feel the grips on both of his hands tighten
Hunter's voice floated from the speakers as a picture of her as a baby came onto the screen, italics across it proclaiming the name of the film as 'My Life Thus Far'.
"I was born on a normal day in March 12th 1990. There was nothing eventful or remotely exciting about my birth. All the excitement came thirteen years later."
Another picture came onto the screen, this one of an older Hunter, Paul, Victoria and a very small Bobby.
"This was my family a little over eighteen months ago. Pretty average. Mother, father, child and dog. We even had the white picket fence. But that all changed when my mom came home with some shocking news."
A picture of Victoria and Booth came onto the screen, one that he instantly recognised as being taken on the day of their engagement party.
"This is Seeley Booth. FBI agent, ex-military and my biological father. He didn't know that my mom was pregnant and she never bothered to tell him. I never knew about him either. When my mother told Paul, the man who I thought was my father, he upped and left us."
A red slash went through the picture, crossing Paul out. That picture was replaced with one of just Hunter, Victoria and Bobby.
"So we became a happy little trio. We got a new house and I started my new school. We were happy, we were fine. Then my mom found out she had lung cancer."
This time the picture made Booth recoil slightly. It was one of Victoria just before she died, pale and gaunt, half her size and fragile.
"By the time they had found it, it was too late for any kind of medical help. So my mom did what any other desperate person would do. She set out to find my real father. She explained to me later it was because that I needed someone when she died and I can happily agree now. But back then, I hated her for it."
The next picture admitted a splatter of laughter from the audience as a picture of grumpy goth Hunter. She looked ridiculous.
"So I went from having a mom and a dad to having just a mom then finding out my dad was not really my dad at all. That was when I met Seeley Booth."
This time a current picture of Booth came onto the screen, his face blank and serious as he was an official photo.
"Nice enough guy I suppose. But I didn't want anything to do with him. Unfortunately, as my mother got worse, I was forced to live with him. And that was when I met Temperance Brennan."
A picture of Temperance that Booth himself had taken at Hunter's birthday did her more justice then his had. Her hair was ruffled and she was in the middle of laughing, her mouth wide, her eyes twinkling.
"She is a very cool chick. Not only is she an author, but she totally gets black and white movies. She was the one who convinced me to give Seeley a chance, that he was a pretty cool guy if you let him be. So I did and we became friends. Then my mother died."
This time the picture was that of Victoria's coffin, the flowers and mourners milling around it.
"I was mad when my mom left. I felt lost and I didn't know what to do with myself. But this was where Seeley came in again."
The next picture was of the peach tree. Victoria's peach tree.
"My mom loved peaches. So Seeley went and got a peach tree for us to plant. It made things easier. I was able to talk to mom through that tree and when we get peaches from it, I will feel even closer to her."
The next picture was one that was taken the day before Hunter went off to camp. It was of Parker, Temperance, Booth and Bobby, all-smiling happily into the camera.
"This is my family now. I have a little brother now called Parker. He's almost five and he's a great kid. He's really smart. I always wanted a sibling and now I have one that I actually like! Not many people can say that!"
There was no picture this time, just Hunter sitting in a seat, smiling widely at the camera as she shifted slightly.
"I'm glad that Seeley is my father. I trust him completely and I know that he will never leave me if he could help it. So that's why I set up a surprise for him. I went with Temperance to the place where they do birth certificates and changed my last name. I am now Hunter Rebekah Redman-Booth. I miss my mother dearly but in her death I gained more then I could ever imagine. So folks, this is my life thus far."
And with that the screen went blank and a small piece of dedication came up.
For Victoria
1973 – 2006
Booth felt the lump in his throat and was happy for the darkness of the theatre. He didn't really fancy crying in front of everybody.
Over the next two days, Booth watched the rest of the movies, totally convinced that Hunter's was one of the best in the lot. So when the final movie came to an end and the applause died down, the same lady who introduced the films came onto the stage.
"And that's all folks. All the hard work all of your children have invested have been laid before you. We will break for lunch and then come back to hear the judges ruling, so to speak."
Booth left with everyone else and ate about as much as Hunter, which was not much. He was nervous for her. Temperance gave them both a big hug as they entered back into the theatre and sat between them, holding their hands in hers. The three people that Booth presumed were the judges came to stand on the stage, and almost as if it were the Emmy's or something, opened an envelope and began to speak.
"While all the film's were brilliant, we were only allowed to pick four. Now we picked three and we have yet to confirm the fourth but we will come back with the answer for that later on in the day. The winner's are: Eternity by James Cook, Pink Frost by Jennifer Franks and Blue Lady by Bic Runga."
Booth saw Hunter dash out of the room and climbed over Temperance to follow her. He found her slumped against a wall, sobbing her heart out. He gathered her in his arms and allowed her to cry. She was allowed to be disappointed; she had worked hard on that film and had obviously put her heart into it. Another set of footsteps came down the hall and Booth's eyes met that of a tall man who was wearing a pinstripe suit, a man he had seen in the audience.
"Miss Booth?"
Hunter raised her head, quickly wiping away her tears with the base of her hand.
"Yes?"
The man held out his hand.
"My name is Richard Burgin. I am the head director at Alfred Collins Academy. Why are you crying?"
Hunter looked at him, a frown deep on her flushed face.
"I lost."
Mr. Burgin gave her a warm smile.
"And how do you know that? We have yet to announce the forth winner yet."
Hunter shook her head, the tears still falling.
"I know I didn't win. So whoever the forth is, it does not matter because it's not me."
Mr. Burgin nodded slightly, as if he was considering her words.
"And you're disappointed right?"
Hunter flashed him a hard glare.
"Of course I am. I'm hardly crying out of happiness."
"Does it make you want to give up making films?"
Hunter shook her head as she tried to ease the tears with her sleeve.
"Nothing could make me want to stop. A lot of directors never finished high school, if they can do it without official training, then so can I."
Far from being offended by the hard, condescending edge in her voice, as most would be, Burgin's smile just got wider and he placed a large hand on her shoulder.
"That's all I wanted to know. I was very impressed with your documentary. I am sorry that your mother was taken so brutally from you. And you sir must be Mr. Booth."
He addressed Booth for the first time and offered his hand to be clasped in the older man's warm strong grip.
"Your daughter certainly has a knack for her chosen career."
"Then why didn't I get a place?"
Hunter, tears now gone pushed her face into his, her tone demanding and hard. Mr. Burgin continued to smile.
"Ah but you did. You are the forth."
Hunter looked at him as if he had just told her the world was flat.
"Really?"
Mr. Burgin nodded and Hunter threw her arms around him.
"Thank you."
Now it was Booth's turn to take the demanding approach.
"Why didn't they announce it in there then?"
Your daughter, talented as she is, is also the youngest person here. Most of our students start at sixteen. We wanted to see if you were willing to allow her to start next year rather then wait the required two. We want to make an exception for her because she has made quite an impression on myself and the rest of the judges."
Hunter turned to Booth, tears long gone her eyes now wide with excitement.
"I can go early right Dad?"
Booth felt his heart drop at the idea of loosing her again, this time not for just twelve weeks but for months at a time. But he knew that she had to go. If she was going to be any good, she had to go.
"Of course."
Hunter hugged Booth and Mr. Burgin ambled away, just as quickly as he had arrived, leaving nothing but good news in his wake.
Temperance, taking Booth's lead, established her own set of rules and traditions for the house. Like the fact that she liked a bit of green with each meal or that Hunter would do more housework. At first, Hunter fought the rules tooth and nail, claiming that Temperance had no right to set any kind of rules because she was not her mother. Then when Hunter realised that Temperance backing down would be about as likely as her shaving all of her hair off, she stopped fighting. So with every meal there were veges and Hunter would do the dishes and hang out laundry without complaint. Except on Saturday's. It seemed that this was the day were rules were thrown out of the window, where you could do anything, within reason of course. They ate popcorn, left the housework, didn't eat any veges, watched movies far past when they were meant too and went to bed with much reluctance. And that was why Booth chose this day to follow through with his plan. Because Saturday's had no rules and no restrictions. He fiddled with the box in his pocket as he watched Hunter, Bobby and Parker have a water fight around the peach tree, both screaming and soaking wet as they continued to attack each other.
"Parker is really going to miss her when she goes off to Alfred Collins."
Booth removed his hand from his pocket as Temperance sidled up to him, her eyes watching the kids also.
"Yeah he will. But remember what Mr. Burgin said when he came for a visit about how Hunter can't start full time till she's sixteen. She'll just be gone for a couple of months before coming home for a month then going back again."
"I like Mr. Burgin. I like that he will have a close eye on her. She's going to find it hard."
Booth watched as Hunter tackled Parker and poured a bottle of water over his head before dashing off again to fill it up. Parker let out a howl of fury and went after her.
"I don't know about that. She's had a lot thrown at her over the last couple of years. I think she'll cope fine. It's me I'm worried about."
Temperance smiled at him and pulled him into a hug.
"I'll look after you, I promise. Someone needs to make sure you eat your greens."
"What is it with you and eating greens?"
"I guess looking after you guys brings out the mother in me."
Booth pulled her closer still, kissing the top of her head. Being with Temperance had made his life a whole lot happier. He felt complete. As if he could take on the world if she would just stay by his side. Which is why he had to ask her. Which is why he needed to ask her.
"We better get those kids in. It's getting dark and dinner's almost ready."
Temperance broke their embrace and Booth followed her outside, his thoughts elsewhere, which is properly why Hunter was able to sneak up behind him and dump a bottle of water over his head.
"HUNTER! That is freezing!"
He heard a scream as Parker managed to soak Temperance before the little boy fell over in a fit of laughter. It took Booth a mere second to decide what to do. He grabbed the hose, turned it on full blast and went after all of them, Temperance included. He ignored her screamed threats and continued to soak her and the kids, who were laughing so hard they had trouble standing up. He called an end to the fun when the air took on a chill and he himself was shivering. They all headed inside, dried off and sat down to eat.
"Macaroni and cheese, as requested by Mr. Parker."
Temperance bought the large serving dish into the dining room and soon all was quite as they ate their meal, hungry from all the running around that afternoon. Booth was watching Temperance as she ate, pausing to answer a question that Parker asked her, watching as she answered it with great patience. Satisfied with her answer, Parker went back to eating. The words were out before he could stop them, tumbling over each other, landing on the table, free at last.
"Marry me."
Temperance continued to chew, sipping at her wine before frowning, looking as if she thought she had heard him incorrectly.
"What?"
"Marry me."
Parker let out a little squeal, one that was silenced when Hunter clapped a hand over his mouth. Temperance glanced at the kids before looking back at Booth.
"Really?"
Booth pushed his chair back and knelt down beside her, taking the small velvet box from his pocket.
"I want you to be with me forever. The kids love you and so do I. We need someone to make sure we eat our greens and know how to fold the laundry properly. Hunter needs a woman to tell her about things that I cannot, Parker needs a step mom that deals with cool things that he can tell his friends about and I need you because you make me a better man. I was nothing before I met you and I am nothing without you. Marry me."
Temperance looked at the kids again, both of whom were nodding, before looking at Booth, a small smile on her face.
"Of course I will"
Booth popped open the box and slipped the ring on her finger, the small diamond catching the light as her hand shook slightly. He pulled her off her seat and in a hug, kissing her wherever he could reach, smiling when the kids began to protest, making gagging noises. With much reluctance, he let Temperance return to her seat, the food now long forgotten. The kids were far to excited to eat and so were they. The rest of the night was spent chatting about the wedding and Booth sat quietly amongst all the chatter, his heart too full for him to speak.
