WELCOME TO OUR FAMILY TIME

CHAPTER 3

Both cars came to a slow stop in front of a clearing where one other car was parked. "Alright, let's get this started" Cadence said bouncing out of her car while pulling the keys out of the ignition. She went around back and popped open her trunk while Seeley was doing the same. Everyone grabbed their respective bags and the extra tent Cadence had packed.

Seeley closed up his car and made sure Parker was by his side before he went to the edge of the forest. Cadence was by his side instantly, "Alright," She addressed the group, "We have to take a short hike towards the site. We're going to take a short cut though here. Everyone stay close." She turned to Lance, "You might want to stay by me" She didn't want him to get separated from the group especially if this was his first time.

"Safety" Seeley said simply to his sister before reaching out expectantly.

"I was getting to that, impatient." Cadence said with a smile, she reached over to her bag and pulled out a brown paper bag, "We have two things to hand out to everyone as part of our safety method." She pulled out a handful of yellow bandanas and started handing them out to everyone. "This way you know who is with us and who isn't and we can easily spot one another at a distance, make sure you always have this on your person." Then she reached into the same bag and pulled out whistles, "Make sure you wear this, if you get lost or need any help blow in three blow increments until help arrives." She put the whistle around Parker's neck; "This time little man take someone with you when you want to go exploring" She kissed his forehead and smiled at the boy.

"Let's go" Seeley said in a commanding voice as he headed into the mouth of the forest.

"Sure thing Sarge" His sister said teasingly as she followed him, she looked behind her quickly to make sure that Lance was behind her.

Lance couldn't help but feel overwhelmed, the forest was so dense and he was sure they weren't on a marked trail. But both Cadence and Booth seemed very confident in themselves.

Brennan watched as Booth became more relaxed around his sister like a part of his guard was down. It was remarkable how much they resembled one another, both with dark hair and dark eyes. It was probably due to the way they carried themselves, confident, warm, and jovial.

Cadence slowed down and stopped until Lance was by her side, "Hey" she pointed to a shiny plant that grew in groups of three, "That's poison ivy, make sure to stay away from it or you'll have hell to pay, the rash is ridiculously itchy." They began moving again falling slightly behind the group. After about five minutes Cadence picked up her speed to make sure she was at the front of the group with her brother again.

Booth looked behind him to see where the group stood, making sure no one had fallen behind, "Looking for someone?" His sister asked gently bumping her shoulder to his, or at least trying to she was slightly shorter than him.

"What? No!" He glared down at his little sister, "What are you talking about?"

"You're going to play that card with me?" She looked at her big brother, her brown eyes knowing what he wouldn't admit.

"Drop it." He said seriously and sternly when she raised her eyebrows at him he added, "Please?"

Gently she touched his arm, "For now." She agreed, and then looked behind her to supervise Lance and make sure he was still close. She caught his eyes and smiled encouragingly. He seemed a little wary but content.

Brennan couldn't help but watch the interaction between siblings; they were completely comfortable in one another's presence. She felt some type of comfort and safety just being in their presence, something she didn't even feel with Russ not anymore. She could see Booth being a good older brother, always there for his family willing to do whatever possible to keep those he loved safe.

"We're getting close" Seeley announced to the group.

Angela was at her friend's side, "Nervous?"

"Why would I be nervous, Angela?" Bones asked her friend.

"You're meeting Booth's parent's now." Angela stated

"So are you. Are you nervous?" Bones asked her wondering if she was so transparent that her nerves were showing.

"Of course not, but then again I'm not the one who's…" She stopped herself before picking the right words, "The one he's close to." Angela didn't want to scare her right now, not since they were so close to the site.

Up ahead Brennan could see an opening in the clearing, light was shining through, they were almost there. She ignored Angela and sped up closing the gap between her and Booth, "Almost there?" She asked him as she reached his side.

"Yeah." He could see his sister smiling from his peripheral and shake her head. "Another minute or two"

"So Dr. Brennan, how is it working with my big brother?" Cadence asked from Seeley's left.

"Please call me Temperance." She told the younger woman, "Well when he's not trying to get to me to eat pie, or being so protective he's very fulfilling to work with."

Cadence's smile grew wider, "He is protective huh?" Seeley glared down at her, he knew where she was going, "He get's that way with the people he loves." There it was. He looked at her and his eyes warned her that later it would be on, one of those brother and sister fights.

"No, we're just partners." Bones said quickly, as she always did in these situations.

"Of course, I didn't mean anything by it." Cadence told the best selling author nonchalantly who seemed quite defensive about the whole thing, imagine when she found out just how much Seeley loved her.

The clearing became more prominent, "Hey!" Cadence called to the group behind her, "We're here." She stopped at the edge of the clearing which looked down slightly at a newly set up campsite.

Brennan stood next to Booth and followed his eyes, an older woman and man were sitting on a log while another younger man brought over some wood and settled it down. Brennan could easily see where Booth got his looks from; his father was a good-looking older man with the same dark features as Booth. The woman, who appeared to be his mother, was a short slender woman with light brown hair. The other man she presumed was Tristan who resembled Boot but not quite as strongly as Jared or Cadence, his hair was light and his feature were more rounded rather than sharp like his three other siblings.

"Weekend of Booth Family Fun, here we come." Cadence said as she out into a light jog down the small hill towards her family, everyone followed. Bones and Booth stayed behind momentarily, "Ready?"

Bones looked at her partner and knew she would be safe here and a feeling of security came over her. Part of her knew this would be a weekend she would never forget.

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A/N: Here's another one for the weekend. Next chapter is meeting the parents! Let me know what you guys think…