A/N: So, in my Bones universe the Booths take weekends off. Most of the time. Here's how I imagine them spending their time together. We'll get back to the case on Monday. Also, I've been writing like crazy now that I can post again. I'm holding each and every one of you responsible if I don't get my taxes filed by Tuesday. And at least 50 of y'all have this on alert. Thank you. Now if you'd just review and let me know I don't suck...
Disclaimer: I don't own Bones. Really. I don't.
Chapter 13 The Mall (Saturday)
The SUV drove slowly, windows down, music softly mixing with the sounds of Washington D.C. as it came to a stop in its usual place at the Hoover Building. Booth was the first to jump out, followed quickly by the boys. Soon they'd gathered up the blankets, a picnic basket, and toys that had been stored in the back seat and were moving toward the mall. Temperance walked with Booth slowly, their fingers intertwined, watching their sons run together. It's a perfect day for a picnic, she thought with a smile. The early fog had been burnt away by the sun, which was now shining bright in the blue, cloudless sky. Petals from the cherry blossom trees were stirred by a small breeze and littered the streets.
They passed the Capitol building, Booth pointing out the recent renovations to the others. They passed several of the Jeffersonian museums, Temperance noting new exhibits she'd been meaning to visit. Coming to a stop outside the Natural Gallery of Arts sculpture garden, one of Angela's favorite places to take the boys, the adults quickly set up the blanket and Booth dug through the backpack he'd brought to find a toy.
Watching her husband expertly toss the Frisbee toward Parker and Sam who were literally jumping with excitement, Temperance was thankful Booth had talked her out of bringing her laptop along. Instead she captured the play on her digital camera as the boys ran with the Washington Memorial in the background. When the boys had tired, they all sat on the large Jeffersonian souvenir blanket and ate lunch.
Before long they'd divided into camps, Parker and Temperance facing off against Seeley and Sam. The four sat in a line on the blankets edge. The weapons were baby carrots, still wet from being washed that morning. The goal was simple; launch the rockets, AKA the carrots, into the emptied picnic basket by squeezing the end between two fingers. Sam struggled to keep his carrots of sliding out of his grasp while Parker overshot, continually sending carrots in the path of D.C. joggers. Temperance struggled to keep a straight face as she watched her husband, who was so adept with a rifle, bite his lower lip in concentration and scowl each time his carrot fell short of its target. Finally, Temperance was declared the winner having landed three of the rockets squarely into the basket, despite another carrot, which went awry and hit Seeley's jaw. Sam and Parker collected the stray carrots and Seeley gave Temperance a well-deserved congratulatory kiss.
After lunch, Temperance walked to the mall slowly, both of her hands claimed by her sons. She gazed up at the Washington Monument, recalling the case she'd worked with Booth atop its scaffolding. In the distance she could make out the Jeffersonian Memorial, where she and Booth took the boys to watch 4th of July fireworks over the Potomac. She turned, hearing Booth's shout and they waited for him to rejoin the stroll, having returned the picnic essentials to the car. With Parker riding piggyback with Seeley, the four continued on.
Sam clung to Temperance as they made their way through the crowds at the World War II Memorial. The family paused beside the field of stars, Temperance snapping a picture of Sam running a finger around the gold symbol. Their journey ended, as it often did, at the Vietnam War Memorial. Temperance rested on a bench and listened as Seeley described his father's service in the war to the boys who'd heard the story regularly. She glanced around the mall taking in the statues, the Korean War Memorial on the far side of Mr. Lincoln. Where, she wondered, would they build the next memorial? To the soldiers who didn't return from the Middle East. Soldiers like Charlie Kent?
Booth settled in next to her now and soon they each had a boy dozing on their laps. He rubbed her shoulders absently.
"What about Kent?" she asked quietly. It was a conversation they'd had before.
"Someday, they'll recognize the others who gave their lives, who didn't come back." She was deep in thought, mulling over the anthropological implications of war, the importance of monuments and a soldier's sense of duty. But her thoughts kept returning to the soldier sitting beside her, his hands playing with her auburn curls, his eyes on their sleeping sons.
"Thank you." He looked at her, confused. "For coming back," she clarified. His face softened and he drew her closer.
"Always. I'll always come back for you. And for these three rug rats." His hand grazed her chin lightly as they kissed.
After some discussion, Temperance and Booth decided to forgo the tour of the national zoo in favor of an early evening at home. Sunday was booked solid and Booth was concerned about his favorite anthropologist's flagging energy. During the drive home, Temperance checked in with Angela. Still pregnant, the report came from Hodgins; still fussing over every detail in the elaborate nursery they'd designed.
By the time they reached home the boys had a second burst of energy and rode their bikes up and down the street, jumping from the curbs, trying new tricks while Temperance watched nervously from the porch swing. Booth was hard at work inside, fixing dinner while catching up with his mother on the phone.
Temperance slowly dried the dishes from dinner, watching the sunset over the hills. She loved this time of day, when everything became quiet. Hearing splashes from the upstairs bath she smiled, almost everything gets quiet. Locking the downstairs and turning off the remaining lights she made her way upstairs to find her boys already in their pajamas, reading in bed. She sat with Parker and watched him turn the pages of the old Hardy Boys book that had belonged to Booth as a child. He read quickly and often insisted on finishing the page, the chapter, and the whole book before sleeping. Temperance kissed his forehead and encouraged him to read and solve the mystery before Frank and Joe.
Moving to Sam's bedside she noted he had abandoned his copy of Hardy Boys and favored the sketchbook Angela had presented him on his last birthday. He bit his lower lip, as his father often did, and re-traced the outline of a ladybug he'd drawn during his camping trip. Below the picture he'd written Cocoon, Coccinad, Coccinellidae. She smiled, knowing he'd secured Parker's Insect Dictionary, or Bug Book, as they called it, to find the proper name. Kissing his forehead as he worked, she slowly left the room.
"Love you two," she called from the doorway.
"Love you, Mommy," they replied flashing twin smiles before returning to their books.
A/N: Okay, I do claim the patent on the most awesome food game ever: carrot rockets. Except when I was in high school the aim was to hit the freshman without getting caught by the deans.
If you've never been to the Washington D.C. and seen the Mall in spring, it's beautiful. Just imagine the Jeffersonian museums are really Smithsonian museums. I miss visiting the city this time of year and I wanted to imagine walking the paths, seeing the sights. If you use Google Maps, you'll see a pretty good aerial picture of the district. My favorite memorial is the WWI Memorial, but I decided not to overdo it on Memorial Row.
Note from my beta, Katherine: A small thing on Google Maps: If you get directions from New York City to Paris, France, and then read step #23 or so, it'll say, "Swim across the Atlantic Ocean." Hahah, just thought I'd let you know that.
Note from the author: just remember kids, after swimming 3,462 miles across the Atlantic Ocean you'll need to take a "slight right at E05" it's very easy to miss and don't forget it's a toll road. Bring the euros. Stuff 'em in your speedo.