"Max! Over here!" Booth called out as he saw Max retrieve his bag and turn around.
Max lifted his arm, his overcoat slung over it, and waved a gloved hand. Booth nodded and slowly wove his way through the throng of people who were greeting their own family and friends in the bus station.
"Booth! Good to see you son." Max said grinning at the man who had made his daughter happier than he had ever known her to be.
Booth reached down and pulled the bag handle from his father in law's hand, and his arm was pulled down slightly.
"What the hell are you carrying in here? Bricks?" he asked, surprised at the weight of the bag.
Max shook his head and clapped Booth on the back as he walked beside him "Just a few gifts" he laughed.
"A few?" Booth asked incredulously, feeling the weight of the bag as he lifted it up and then let it drop again.
Max simply smiled "So tell me, how's Tempe and my grand children? he asked.
Booth leaned into the door that lead out into the carpark and held it open for Max who followed him through it. "She's good actually. Christine is excited to see you. Be prepared. She has literally hundreds of drawings to show you, and a new board game to play with you. Clue. I should warn you, for a six year old, she's ruthless."
Max looked at him, surprise showing on his face. "But isn't she a bit young for that game?"
Booth shrugged and weaved his way through the parked cars to his vehicle. He opened the back door and heaved Max's bag onto the back seat. "Well the game is rated for ages eight and above, but of course, Bones insisted that her powers of deduction will become enhanced by playing it, and of course, she never makes it easy for Christine." he said.
Max opened the passenger door and slid into the front seat, pulling the door closed. Booth slipped into the drivers seat and secured his seat belt.
"Ah yes. Tempe never made it easy for anyone when playing board games. Poor Russ. She would absolutely annihilate him at Battleship. Her argument was that he didn't have very good logic or critical thinking, and therefore she would always win." Max said grinning.
Booth grinned "I tried to let Christine win at Hungry Hungry Hippos and Bones told me off. She said that Christine's motor skills and competitive nature wouldn't develop properly if I didn't push her to compete properly. And that this would then affect her academically when it came to striving to be top of her class." he said, pulling a face and rolling his eyes. "or something like that. I kind of zoned out after she told me off" he added.
Max looked down at his hands, knuckles swollen and starting to become misshapen. He intertwined his fingers and flexed them in front of himself, trying to force them straight. "That's our Tempe" he said, smiling to himself. "And what about our little man?" he asked, turning to look at Booth.
"Oh he's great. He's so big now. Starting to talk." Booth looked over his shoulder then quickly pulled out into the traffic. "Funniest thing. He's been calling Bones, Bones! It's driving her crazy. She wants him to call her Mommy or Mama, but the little monster just won't do it."
Booth stopped speaking for a minute as he braked hard, as another driver pulled into his lane. He flicked his hand at the windscreen "You crazy moron! Indicate! So many idiots on the road Max. Honestly, I swear that when Christine turns sixteen and comes to ask me to teach her to drive, I may just lock her in her room for three or four years" he said, pulling across towards the turn off. "Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah, Hank won't call her Mommy, so now I have to call her Mommy when Hank is in the room, so that he stops mimicking me. Can you believe that?"
Max stared at Booth for a moment then burst out laughing "Oh Booth" he chuckled, tears streaming from the corners of his eyes "I absolutely can believe it. I really can."
They chatted about mundane things as Booth took a turn into Schneiders, stopping briefly to run in and buy four cases of beer, two of wine, several bottles of spirits and a dozen mixers. He half ran across the parking lot, pushing the trolley loaded up with alcohol to the back of the car, opening the trunk and depositing the cases, securing them with an elastic net to stop them sliding around. He jumped back into the driver's seat and looked at Max.
"Just one of the items on Bones' to do list. Which apparently I am to do" he said pressing the ignition.
Max smiled and leaned back in his seat. "One?" he asked.
Booth raised an eyebrow "One. Next is Fresh Farm market. Gotta put in the order for the fresh produce for Christmas Day with Randy." he said, exaggerating the name. " Thankfully, they will deliver. For a price of course." he said.
"Doesn't everyone?" Max chimed in.
He drove for about six or seven minutes and pulled into the parking lot of the market. "Be right back" he said as he jumped out of the car. He began to run towards the door, then Max saw him stop, begin patting at his chest and pockets, then run back to the car and pull open the door. He reached over towards Max and shoved his hand underneath Max's butt, rummaged around for a minute, then pulled it out, a sheet of paper in his hand. "List" he puffed. Then slammed the car door and ran back towards the doors of the market, leaving Max sitting in the car, stifling a chuckle.
After about ten minutes, Booth came lurching across the parking lot and pulled open the car door and landed heavily in the seat, puffing. "OK. One more stop. You can come with me and help." He said, pointing at Max, as he swallowed and started the car.
"If I might ask?" Max said. "Why so much alcohol and food? There's only you, Tempe, the kids, me, Russ and his family." he said.
Booth burst out laughing. Sounding almost maniacal. "Oh if only! No. No Max. We also have Jack and Angela and their son because Bones didn't want them to be alone on Christmas because Angela's father is overseas. AND, we have Aubrey and Jessica too." he said, grinning like a crazy man because I invited them, thinking we were only going to have a small Christmas.
Max swallowed and nodded, then turned and stared out the window. "Booth. I need to tell you something." He said quietly.
Booth was concentrating on the traffic, muttering Whole Foods, when I could have easily just dropped into the local Safeway, but no. Bones insists on shopping at Whole Foods
Max quickly glanced over at him, then looked back out the window "Margaret and her husband and new baby are coming too. It's going to be a surprise for Tempe." he said quickly, his voice low.
The food at Whole Foods is fresher than at Safeway. Which is ridiculous because we're only buying canned and packaged foods. But Bones insists on getting what Bones "What?" Booth stopped muttering, suddenly registering that Max had spoken. "What did you just say?" he asked again.
Max shifted his weight in the car seat, moving closer to the door, trying to put a little distance between him and Booth.
"Uh. Oh. Yeah. I may have told Margaret I was coming for Christmas, and she thought it would be a great surprise for Tempe if she and Barry and little Marcie turned up for a Christmas surprise." he said to the window, then turned and looked at Booth, "Surprise!" he said, forcing a wide smile.
Booth turned and stared ahead at the traffic, then starting slamming his hand against the steering wheel.
"Booth. Stop! You're doing to break the wheel!" Max cried, honestly worried.
Booth kept driving, both hands gripping the steering wheel so tight, his knuckles went white. He pulled into the parking lot of the supermarket, tyres squealing as he took the turn quicker than Max liked, then braked hard, sending Max forwards. The seatbelt holding him back from hitting the dashboard.
Booth turned and pointed at Max, his finger trembling. "You. Get out of the car."
"Booth. Son. It's only two extra people. The baby" he started.
"Get. Out." Booth said slowly.
Max swallowed hard and exited the car, fully expecting Booth to drive away. But, to his surprise, Booth got out and grabbed a trolley and started stomping towards the supermarket doors. He yelled back over his shoulder. "Don't just stand there! We have a list to fill!"
Max stood still for a moment, then jumped and walked as quickly as his knees would allow him, following Booth to the doors where Booth shoved the trolley towards him and simply said "Follow me"
Booth checked off all the items on the list carefully. In some instances adding extra items, in light of Max's revelation that there were going to be even more people at his table on Christmas Day.
They loaded the grocery bags into the car and Booth stood, hand on the door and looked at Max "You're not going to spring anyone else on me, right?" he asked.
"Booth, I swear, that's it." he replied, both hands raised up in surrender.
Booth stood staring across the car at him, then nodded and got into the car. "Let's get this all home. It's still got to be unpacked and then I am going to have a ridiculously large drink." he said.
"Poppy Max!" Christine squealed as she ran out of the front door and up to the car as Booth pulled into their driveway.
Max couldn't get out of the car quickly enough "There's my little chicken!" he said, grabbing Christine under the arms and lifting her up with a loud groan. "You've grown so much! I won't be able to pick you much longer!" he said kissing her cheek.
"Oh Poppy Max. You're funny. I've got drawings for you. And we're going to play Clue!" she laughed, clasping her hands together behind his head and staring into his eyes.
"Well that's good. I love your drawings" Max said, squeezing his granddaughter hard.
"Hi Dad!" Brennan called from the front door.
Max looked up to see a small person walking toddling him on short solid legs. He put Christine down and held out his arms "Come on tiger!" he called as Hank headed towards him, his chubby fingers opening and closing, his hands held out to Max.
Max hoisted Hank up onto his hip and kissed his forehead, looking over at Brennan who was smiling widely at him. He looked down into the face of this little boy who resembled Booth so much and grinned. "You're getting so big!" he said.
Hank grinned a gap toothed smile and grabbed at Max's nose squeezing it hard.
"Honk! Honk!" Max hooted and then laughed.
"Pop Pop" Hank giggled.
Max's eyes widened and he looked over at Brennan "Did you hear that? He called me Pop Pop!" he looked down at Hank "That's right, isn't it? I'm Pop Pop! Yes I am!"
Brennan watched as Booth opened the trunk and heaved two cases of beer out.
"You did get more than that, didn't you? And you ordered our fresh produce? And "
Booth walked past her "Yes, yes, of course, yes. It's all in the car. Little help?" he said, looking back at Max who was still fussing over his grand children.
Brennan walked up to Max and gave him a hug and kissed his cheek. "You look good Dad. The bus ride was OK?" she asked.
Max smiled and kissed his daughter back "Yeah. It was long and my knees and back hurt. But I'm OK. Unlike Grumpy" he said, nodding in the direction of Booth who had come back out of the house and walked to the back of the car.
"I better help him. His stress levels are worse than a cat that just realised they used their ninth life!" Max laughed.
Brennan took Hank from Max and followed him to the car. She was peering at the shopping bags as Booth came back to the car for the fourth trip.
"Did you remember to"
"Bones. I got everything on the list. Every. Single. Thing. What I need to do now is to unpack the car. And then I need to drink a very large glass of scotch, take off my shoes and eat something that's bad for me. Not necessarily in that order. But I will do all three of those things as soon as I'm done here. OK?" Booth said, grabbing three large brown paper bags full of groceries. He stepped up to her and leaned over the bags and kissed her on the lips "Then maybe after that, you and I can go to our room, and you can help me relax in the bath." he winked at her and headed towards the house.
Max stepped awkwardly out from behind her, making her turn. "Dad! You. Uh. You didn't?"
Max, closed his eyes and shook his head, "I am trying to pretend I didn't" he said, grabbing a couple of shopping bags out of the car. "I'm trying" he repeated then followed Booth into the house.
Brennan shrugged her shoulders and looked at Hank who was staring at her "Well at least you didn't understand that" she said kissing his face.
"Mommy? Are you and Daddy going to have a bubble bath? Can I have one too?" Christine's voice made her look down at her daughter.
"Oh. Um. Well, Mommy and Daddy" she began.
Booth suddenly stepped between them and scooped Christine up into his arms and pretended to chew on her tummy "You'll be in bed before Daddy has a bath tonight baby. Maybe tomorrow you and I can hop in the hot tub? That'll be fun. Maybe Poppy Max might like to hop in too. We'll see. How about right now, you go inside and you can help Mommy put away all the groceries. There's lots and lots because we're having lots and lots of guests for Christmas Day!" he said staring at Brennan "Lots and lots and lots of people" he added.
Brennan screwed up her nose. "Don't be dramatic Booth." She leaned in and kissed Christine's forehead. "We've got all our friends coming to spend Christmas with us. And it is going to be a wonderful day." she smiled. "Isn't it Booth?"
Booth sighed and put his daughter down, setting her on her feet "Mommy's right. It's going to be fun and loud and we're all going to eat too much"
"And we're going to open presents?" Christine asked, hopefully.
"Yes we are going to open presents. And it's going to be great. Mommy will make sure it's great." he said.
Just then, Bones' phone rang. "Oh no. Bones. Please. Don't answer it. I have a bad feeling." Booth said.
Brennan laughed "Oh Booth. You're being ridiculous now" she said as she pulled her phone from her pocket and answered it. "Temperance Brennan. Yes! How are you? You're back in town? That's wonderful."
Booth stood staring at his wife, shaking his head from side to side, his mouth forming the word no over and over.
Brennan held up a hand and frowned at him then turned her back on him.
"Oh Bones. This is gonna be bad. I just know it." he muttered, walking past her towards the house.
"Oh No! You can't do that! You must come here. No. I insist. No trouble at all. Yes. Absolutely I'm sure. Wonderful! See you then" she pushed her phone back into her pocket and walked back to the house, a large grin on her face.
"Great news everyone!" she announced, putting Hank down on the floor. "Daisy and little Seeley are coming for Christmas!"
Booth covered his face with his hand.
"She was going to have Christmas by herself, but I told her that it was not even an option" Brennan said.
Booth dropped his hand and stared at her "You're right. She shouldn't be on her own. We'll fit them in. What's one more at the table." he said.
Max cleared his throat and stared at Booth, who walked over to the bar and poured himself a glass of scotch, full to the brim.
"Booth!" Brennan exclaimed, seeing the glass.
"Uh, I got distracted and slipped. It's fine Bones" he said, looking at the glass, then leaned down and slurped at the liquid to bring the level down. "There. Now I can add ice" he said grinning at Brennan.
"Don't mind if I do" Max said holding out a glass.
Booth stared at him, then reluctantly, poured a single measure into the glass. "I'm leaving room for ice" he said grinning, as Max looked at the glass. "What?" he added.
Brennan smiled at him then looked at her father. "This is going to be the most wonderful Christmas ever! Now, Dad. You and Booth are going out Christmas Tree shopping tomorrow!"
"No, I'm going to chop down my own tree Bones. I told you that!" Booth said, frowning as he took another large swig of scotch.
"And I reminded you that we have so much to do, it would be better if you simply went to the Christmas Tree Farm and bought one already cut and prepped." Brennan reminded him. "We really don't have time for you to go tramping through the woods looking for a tree."
Booth stared at his drink. This Christmas had definitely taken a sharper turn than he anticipated.
"Well, I don't think it would take too long for us to find the perfect tree Tempe. And if Booth really wants to find and chop down his own. Well, I think he should." Max said.
Booth stared at Max, then looked at Brennan who was frowning. He could see her mind ticking over. She was trying to analyse why her father was on his side, and not hers. Her mouth opened, then closed. Then she said "Well, as long as you don't get distracted, or lost, or hurt, or"
"We'll be fine Tempe. It's not the first time I've done this." Max said.
"Maybe, but I can't remember the last time you did it." Brennan said, seriously.
Max stared at his daughter for a moment "Well, then. It's about time I did it again. For you. And for my grandchildren. We'll do it together." he said, reaching over and patting Booth on the shoulder. "It'll be the best Christmas tree you'll ever see." He looked up at the ceiling "I think we could easily fit a fifteen footer in here, right Booth?" he asked.
Brennan's eyes popped open "I think we agreed seven feet would be tall enough"
Max screwed up his nose "Rubbish. I'll measure up in the morning. It'll be fine pumpkin" he said walking over to Brennan and giving her a hug. "Now. I'm hungry. How about I grill us some burgers for dinner?"
"Yay! Burgers!" Christine yelled and danced around her brother who was sitting on the floor.
"Burber!" he yelled.
"Hank wants a burger too Poppy!" Christine laughed, squatting down next to her brother. "You want a burger Hank?" she asked him as he bounced up and down on his bottom.
Booth's bad mood seemed to dissipate at that exact moment. He looked at his wife. She was so happy about hosting this big, ridiculous crazy, Christmas Day even though she had originally insisted was only going to be him, her and the kids. Her eyes were sparkling, her smile was so bright. She looked so beautiful and so happy.
He looked at Max. He looked old, and tired. But there was a sparkle in his eye as he talked about chopping down a Christmas Tree for his daughter.
He looked at his daughter, who was so excited about having a big family Christmas for the first time in her life.
And then Hank, who really had no clue what was happening, but was just squealing and bouncing on the floor.
"Sounds perfect Max. Perfect. Cheers!" he held up his glass to Max who returned the gesture.
Brennan stood, her hands clasped in front of her chest. Things were turning out just the way she was hoping. Nothing could go wrong.