A/N: Happy New year, everyone! Here is a new chapter to enjoy on this first chapter of the year!
'On the fifth day of Bonesmas, my writer friend gave to me five stuffed animals.'
It's been a tradition in their little family for each of the babies born to receive a special stuffed animal. Starting when Brennan had given Michael Vincent his fluffy bunny on the day he was born, Michael giving Christine a orange tabby cat, though the girl latched onto the pink bunny her grandpa Max had given her. Christine then broke the line by giving Lance junior a lion saying that it was because his daddy was brave and it would make baby Lance brave too. When Hank was born, the newest Booth child received two stuffed animals. One, a yellow duck, from Lance to continue the chain, and another from his Auntie Angela, who just couldn't resist the floppy blue dog she had seen in the store.
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"Alright, Hank, we have a very important job to do today," Brennan said, opening the door to the independent toy store, Hank holding onto her hand. "Auntie Angela and uncle Jack are having another baby, and you have to find him a stuffed friend."
"My doggie!" Hank says.
"Exactly like your dog," Brennan nods. "So let's look around here and find one for the new baby, okay?"
"Okay!" Hank smiles. Though with lots of new and fun toys around, the toddler becomes easily distracted. "Mommy! Trains! My trains!"
"No, we don't need trains today," Brennan says, pulling her son away from the display wooden train set. "Let's do what we need to do, and then we can play for a little while, okay?" Compromise, Brennan had learned, tended to work best with young children.
The two reach the back corner of the store that had been turned into a stuffed animal paradise. Soft toys of every size, species, and color covered every shelf and littered the floor. A pair of young girls stood nearby, playing with some of the stuffed animals, and looked over when Brennan and Hank walked up.
"Doggie! My doggie!" Hank says, grabbing the closest toy to him. "Mine."
"No, you don't need any more stuffed animals. Your and Christine's room are filled with them. Perhaps we should think about donating some to charity. Do you think your sister would agree to that? Giving some of her toys away to kids who need them."
"'Teen help," Hanks says, understanding what his mom said.
"I think so too," Brennan smiles, squatting down to her son. "Maybe we should get another toy? You have a doggie, do you think the new baby would want the same as you?"
"Same as me! We match!"
"Auntie Angela would think that's sweet, that you want to match stuffed animals with the new baby," Brennan nods. "Well, that was easy. Ready to go?" As Brennan guides Hank back to the front, the toddler suddenly stops.
"Mommy! This one!"
"This one? But I thought you wanted to match the new baby? You had decided."
"No! This one! The baby dino! The dino for Auntie Angela," Hank nods.
"Are you sure?" Brennan asks, nodding at her son.
"I sure. This one."
"Okay. But you have to put the dog away."
"No! Mine!"
Brennan sighs; she really didn't want her son to meltdown in the middle of the store. So she did something very out of character: she gave in; allowed Hank to keep the toy. Booth would be appalled when he found out; she never just gave in, especially when she had made a decision on something. But this was a special occasion; at least that was what she told herself.
Not wanting him to change his mind again, Brennan quickly moves them into line. When they reach the checkstand, she lifts Hank up so he can hand over the toy.
"Thank you!" The girl behind the counter smiles. "Wow, this is a pretty cool dino!"
"I buy it. For the new baby." Hank tells her.
"Oh, really? That is so sweet. I'm sure they will love it."
"Mommy! They gonna love it!" Hank smiles.
"They will," Brennan agrees. She gives Hank the money to pay, and he proudly hands over the bills. The cashier gives back the change and hands over the bag with the present inside.
"I hope your friend enjoys their present! Have a great day!
"Thank you!" Brennan says, prompting Hank to do the same.
"Thank you!"
Mother and son leave the toy store with their mission accomplished. Later that night, Hank 'helps' his mom wrap the gift, which basically consists of the toddler stuffing an obscene amount of tissue paper into a bag and calling it done. Though Brennan does fix it after he goes to bed, Hank's wrapped present sits on his dresser, waiting for the day when the excited boy can give it to his auntie.
