WELCOME TO OUR FAMILY TIME

CHAPTER 5

By the time they returned from the hike the sun was beginning to set. Tristan went over to the container that held hotdogs for the first night and immediately began dinner. As Tristan started unpackaging the hotdogs and the buns, Austin began a small fire.

Cadence strolled over to where Tristan stood and brought him some plates.

Bones sat down next to Booth as he helped Parker with his backpack and canteen. "Hey" he said when he noticed her sit down.

"Hi." She answered. Although Parker looked a lot more like his mother than he did Booth there were very prominent similarities between the two. He had those same big puppy dog brown eyes that melted her guard every time. And the same charming smile she had seen his father use over and over again.

"Dr. Bones did you have fun?" Parker asked her with a bright smile on his face.

"Yes, of course. You're a natural out there Parker." She told the young boy.

"Daddy taught me everything." Parker said hugging his dad around his midsection before running off.

Bones couldn't help but smile. For all those time Booth thought that he wasn't as adequate father the look on Parker's face when they spoke or even when he saw his father disproved that theory immediately. She only hoped that Booth knew that.

--*--

Tristan, Cadence, and Austin had set up an assembly line of dealing with food. Tristan grilled the hotdogs over the fire, while Cadence put them on the buns, and Austin put the on the plates. The process was moving along quickly. "Auntie Cadence can I have one?" Parker asked pulling on her tee shirt.

Cadence smiled, "Dad, why don't you guys start on those." Austin nodded. "Hey everyone." Cadence called out, "Come get some food!"

As the hotdogs were being passed out around the fire Cadence stayed and helped Tristan. "So," he said.

"So…" Cadence responded.

"Jared made out with Seeley's girl huh?" Tristan said looking over at Tempe.

Cadence laughed, "Jared can't keep his mouth shut can he."

"Well she's pretty hot, Seeley should get on that." Tristan said.

"Oh the sin, my big brother being a gentleman, you should take some notes." Cadence retaliated, rolling her eyes as she pilled up the remaining hot dogs and walked over with Tristan.

Tristan looked at Seeley, "How on earth does she manage to defend all of us while telling one of us off at the same time?"

"She wears herself out," Seeley answered biting into the hot dog.

Angela looked over at Tristan, "So what is it that you do"

Seeley snorted a bit and choked up a piece of his hot dog. Cadence threw a napkin at him. "Yes Tristan what are you doing this month?" Seeley teased his younger brother, who of all the Booth's had the least ambition.

"I'm a personal trainer and I lead special classes at night, mostly my Taebo classes which are a hit."

"They're a damn workout, I come out of there sweating bullets." Cadence said taking a sip from her canteen.

"But you're in shape huh?"

"Are you trying to say I was fat?" She glared at her brother.

"Not fat, just a little chunky," he laughed

"Oh I'm gonna get you later." Cadence threatened.

Bones leaned over to Booth, "Did she say sweating bullets?" she whispered to him, not wanting to disturb the rest of the conversation going on around the circle.

"Yeah Bones," he laughed, "It just means that she was sweating a lot."

"Well why wouldn't she just say that?" Bones asked turning her attention back to the group.

Angela looked at Bones who was sitting next to Seeley as they whispered to each other with smiles on their face. "What about you Cadence?"

"I'm a social worker." She responded.

"Among other things." Julie said smiling at her daughter.

"What else do you do?" Lance asked her.

"I'm a certified special education and regular classroom teacher, too."

"So kids are your thing?" Angela said.

"I guess." Cadence smiled, "I just have the necessary amount of patience to deal with children."

Julie got up and brought a trash bag out of her tent and began to collect some of the plates from everyone who was done. "I hope that was enough food for everyone."

"Oh yes ma'am" Hodgins said as he handed her his plate.

"S'mores!" Parker screamed as he got up quickly from his spot on the log excited.

"Not right now buddy, let's all digest a little bit. We can have some s'more while we tell scary stories" Austin said in a low voice as he grabbed the boy and tickled his side.

"Scary stories?" Parked asked concerned "Aren't we going to wait until tomorrow?"

"No, we're going to tell you one tonight as we have some s'mores. I think I'll pick my favorite." Austin said to him.

"Uh oh" Julie said teasingly to Parker who squirmed a bit.

--*--

"Let me help you with that mom" Cadence said as she grabbed a handful of Herhey's bars and the bag of marshmallows, as Julie grabbed the graham crackers and sticks.

"So, has your brother said anything about Temperance?" Julie asked.

"No, I haven't bothered him too much about it, why?"

"Do you see the way he looks at her?"

"Of course I do!" Cadence said laughing.

"And she seems to look at him in the same way."

"Mom, let's just drop it for now and enjoy the weekend!" Cadence said looking over at her brother who was taking to his friends. "I'll take care of it, I promise."

"I just want him to be happy."

"We all do mom." Cadence gently touched her mother's shoulder and then headed over to where the group was around the fire, waiting for the ingredients for the s'mores.

Cadence sat down next to Lance and began passing around the ingredients as her mom did the same thing, "Do you know how to make s'mores Lance?"

"Yeah" He smiled at her looking deep into her brown eyes, he tried to ignore how beautiful she was until now. He was scared Agent Booth would catch him watching her, but there was no denying she was beautiful, and what made her even more attractive was her confidence and willingness to help. He tore his eyes away and concentrated on the dessert before him.

--*--

"Dr. Bones!" Parker said rushing over to Bones "I promised I would show you how to make s'mores."

"Yes, I would appreciate that Parker." She said as the boy settled himself between her and Booth.

"Ok." Parker said, "First you need two pieces of graham crackers, two marshmallows, and a row of chocolate from the bar." He collected the ingredients and watched her as she did the same. "Then you take one piece of graham cracker, the flat side" he said showing her what he meant, "Then you put the chocolate on there" Brennan did exactly what Parker instructed. "Next, you put the two marshmallows on the stick and heat them over the fire. I'll show you first." He put the stick above the flames. "When they become a golden brown color then they're ready," he said turning the stick to cover the whole marshmallows with the heat.

Booth watched with a smile as Bones took in the information Parker had given her. She took it like a scientific equation. One step at a time with precise instruction. Her eyes were keen on the boy and his actions.

"Now you try Dr. Bones" Parker said as he finished explaining and taking a bite into the gooey treat.

Bones walked through the instructions with Parker as she began the process. Parker watched her intently, and seriously. When she finished she topped the marshmallow in between the chocolate and graham cracker with the other graham cracker and squeezed gently as she pulled out the stick. She wore a smile of success on her face as she took a bite, "Oh," She said as some marshmallow got stuck outside her mouth, "The marshmallow melts the chocolate. This is delicious." She took another bite. "Thank you Parker, your instruction was very helpful."

"You're welcome Dr. Bones." He said smiling and then walked away as Tristan called his nephew over to him.

Booth looked at Bones as she continued to enjoy the treat. "What?" She asked him when she noticed he was watching her.

"You really enjoy that, don't you?"

"I can't believe I've never had these before, they're such a good snack. It's the best of treats. Your son did a superb job with the instructions." She informed him.

Booth laughed, he leaned over and wiped the marshmallow off the side of her mouth, "They can get really messy."

"I didn't even realize I had gotten some on me."

"Yeah you were too busy enjoying, look at you living like us humans." Booth said teasingly as he bumped his shoulder into her.

She laughed and looked into his eyes, "Thanks you." He knew it carried a lot more weight than just wiping her face off and he felt his heart swell slightly.

--*--

"Then the man spun her around and around. She gasped for breath, trying to step out of the spin. But he spun her faster and faster. Her feet felt hot. The floor seemed to melt under her. He spun her even faster. She was spinning so fast that a cloud of dust flew up around them both so that they were hidden from the crowd.

When the dust settled, the girl was gone. The man in black bowed once to the crowd and disappeared. The devil had come to his party and he had spun the girl all the way to hell!"

As the scary story came to an end Parker clung to his grandmother's side, his eyes wide open with fear. He looked around the circle at his family who were all smiling, and tried his best to smile too.

"Alright buddy it's time for bed." Seeley said picking up his son.

"Dr. Bones can you come tuck me in too?" He asked as he laid his head on his dad's shoulder clutching his neck.

Bones was completely shocked, she as never good with kids. Truthfully she didn't allow herself to be around them long enough to know whether she was or was not good with them. But she wasn't even good in social situations with adults so she knew children wouldn't like her. "Bones" Booth's voice broke her out of her chain of thought. "Coming?"

"Yes, of course" she followed Booth into the tent that Parker would be sharing with his two cousins tomorrow but was having all to himself tonight.

Bones closed the flap behind her as Booth settled Parker into his sleeping bag.

"Alright Bub, sweet dreams!" Booth kissed his forehead.

"Good night Parker" Brennan said gently touching the boys head.

"Wait." Came Parker's small voice form his sleeping bag as they both made to leave the tent.

"What's wrong?" Booth asked his son.

"I'm scared, can you stay with me until I fall asleep?" He asked.

"Of course." Seeley told him.

"I'll see you guys in the morning" Brennan said continuing for the flap.

"No!" Parker exclaimed, "Can you stay with me too Dr. Bones?"

"Me?" She said shocked, "Are you sure Parker?"

"Yes please." Then she looked into the same brown eyes that his father had those same eyes that easily persuaded her to do their bidding.

"Ok." She sat down next to the boy. Parker pulled his dad down so he was laying on his side next to him and did the same with his Dr. Bones.

They stayed there watching the boy struggle with his eyes, and trying to keep them open out of fear even though they both assured him it was just a story. Even after Parker had fallen asleep they both lay on their sides looking from one another's eyes then to Parker, just enjoying the silent company the other had to offer.

--*--

A/N: I really appreciate all the reviews you guys send my way… they give me real motivations to keep going!

I hope you enjoy this chapter, things are slowly picking up. Let me know what you think…