The sun is out, I rush to the window.
Suddenly I just want to let go of the past and start all over again.
So I say come on, open your eyes and see what's outside.
There's nothing to fear, it's a new year.
When I first took the job at the Jeffersonian, I never expected it to change my life the way that it has. It was supposed to be just a job; a way to pay the bills why allowing me to continue with my passion for anthropology. And that's all that it was for a while…until I found my place, my family.
To Dr. Jack Hodgins – You were the first one to join my team all of those years ago. You used to have quite the anger problem, but I think that meeting Angela loosened you up a bit. Ever since we almost died together buried alive in my car, I have felt a special attachment to you. I think sharing that type of experience with anyone would almost have to bring you closer, so I'm glad that I got to experience it with you. Thank you for, as Booth would put it, always having my back. You have been a great friend over the years and you are truly, deeply missed. And fear not, Katie is in the best of hands. We'll help her discover her daddy's passion for science. R.I.P.
To Angela Montenegro – Where do I even begin, Ange? The way I see it, you saved me when I was drowning. You were the first person I ever really opened up to about my childhood and I will be forever grateful for your listening and support. I do believe that you once told me that you loved me like a sister. I agree with this. You were my sister, my best friend in my new makeshift family. While having lost you will never get easier, I have learned to make peace with it. And I want you and Hodgins to know that Booth and I are taking great care of your daughter and when she's old enough, we plan to tell her about how truly amazing her parents really were. I'm also sure you'll be happy to know that Booth and I are finally happy together. Thank you for never giving up on us. Your longing need for us to be a couple has proved to even push us together from the grave. You're one hell of a match maker. R.I.P.
To Dr. Camille Saroyan – I know that in the beginning we didn't have the best of relationships. Let's face it, I didn't trust you. You swooped in from New York, stole the job I was hoping to get and my partner. Don't worry, you can keep the job, I took back what I really wanted. I won't deny that we've had our differences over the years, but in the end you have become one of my closet friends. Thank you for everything. Your help and support over the past few months as been immensely helpful. Again, I thank you.
To Dr. Lance Sweets – I won't lie; I used to find you very annoying. Some days, I still do. But Sweets, you, much like Cam, have been immensely helpful as of late and I'm grateful. I will never understand psychology, but you are still an integral part of this team. You've earned a spot in my little work family because let's face it; I have a soft spot for you. Never lose your optimism in life, Sweets. It makes you who you are. Oh and I forgive you for not telling me that Booth was still alive…finally.
To my interns – You are a very intelligent group of young individuals. You each show a lot of promise and passion for the field. I wanted you to know that I'm proud of everything that you've been able to accomplish over the past several years. And as I know the time for your dissertations is approaching rapidly, I wish you all the best of luck. You each deserve a doctorate. I thank you for all of your contributions.
To Special Agent Seeley Booth – Here I am publicly announcing that you were my muse for Andy Lister. Are you happy now? But in all seriousness, you have been my rock. We've had our rough patches, but when I needed you the most, you were there. Thank you for always being there…it means the world to me. You have been my best friend and partner for nine years now and I honestly have no clue what I would do without you. I love you so much. There are great things down the road for us; adventures that we'll dive into together…because we are quite the dynamic duo.
And to my Katie girl – Sweetie, I know you're not old enough to read this yet, but I just wanted you to know how much you are loved. Every single person in this dedication loves you more than you will ever possibly know. May you find the same type of friends in your life that I have found in mine. Thank you for opening my eyes and allowing me to see what it was that I truly wanted in life.
"Bones, come on! People will be getting here soon!" Booth called from downstairs.
"Be right there!" Brennan called back.
Today was Katie's second birthday. Exactly a year ago Angela and Hodgins were in the car accident that cost them their lives. Exactly a year ago Brennan and Booth were granted full custody of their daughter. In that year their lives had changed more than she ever thought was possible. They'd morphed into this whole new family. And while a day didn't go by that she didn't miss her friends, she had honestly never been happier.
Brennan descended the stairs and lazily draped her arms around Booth in an embrace. He kissed the top of her head.
"What were you working on?" he asked.
"The dedication for my last Kathy Reichs book."
"Who's it to?"
"Wait and read it yourself."
"Before it's published?"
"After it's published."
"But –"
"Not this time."
"So it's to me then."
Brennan sighed. "It's to everyone. It's been a long a year and I owe so much to so many people."
"Well we can start by throwing them all this party!"
"This party isn't for them, it's for Katie."
"Bones, she's two. She's not going to remember this."
"Well no, but I will. It's the first birthday party I've ever thrown and I just want it to be perfect."
"You're ridiculous."
"For wanting to have the perfect party for our daughter?"
"She's two."
She rolled her eyes and went to find Katie sitting in the living room.
"Well don't you look pretty in your new purple princess dress!"
Katie giggled and ran over to hug her leg. Brennan laughed.
"Happy Birthday my sweet girl. Do you know how old you are today?"
The girl shrugged.
"You're two," Brennan told her holding up two fingers. Katie copied her. "Very good."
"Are you really teaching her math on her birthday?" Booth asked, walking into the room with an armful of balloons.
"You need to start early with these things."
"Oooo pretty," Katie said, reaching her tiny hands for the balloons.
"Come on birthday girl, let's go outside and tie some of these around the tables," Booth told her. "I'll let you play with the extras."
Brennan followed them outside. "How much of your family is coming today?"
"Just Pops and Parker. Jared had to work, which actually may turn out to be a good thing. How about from yours?"
"My dad, Russ and Amy, and their girls."
"Good. Parker will have someone to play with. Who all did you invite from the Jeffersonian again?"
"I like how we're discussing this minutes before they're set to arrive."
Booth shrugged tying three balloons around the leg of the food table.
"Cam who said she was bringing Michelle, Sweets, and my interns."
"Oh what, no new people?"
"No."
"But I thought you said you liked Dr. Ross."
"I do. As a colleague. Not as someone I need to invite to my house for my daughter's second birthday. Oh and I invited Angela's dad, but I haven't heard from him."
"Well then. It sounds like we're going to have the perfect blend of friends and family."
"Just our luck."
He came over and kissed her. She smiled into the kiss as she heard the doorbell ring.
"I have to go answer that," she told him, trying to get away.
"Let them wait. They're early," he responded pulling her in for another kiss.
The doorbell rang again.
"Booth!" Brennan exclaimed, slapping him away. "Save that for later."
"Promises, promises."
She shook her head and went to go answer the door. Of course Max had been the first one to arrive.
"Hello honey," he greeted, drawing her into a hug.
"Hi Dad."
"Where's the birthday girl?"
"Out back with Booth. He's still tying balloons onto things."
"Quite the decorator that one," Max laughed.
Brennan rolled her eyes and directed him out back as the doorbell rang again. Soon enough everyone had arrived and the backyard was a buzz with activity. The kids kicked a soccer ball around, weaving in and out of the various adults. Sweets and Daisy sat with Russ and Amy, no doubt discussing the joys of their recent nuptials with the only other married couple at the party. Max and Pops, the ever proud grandparents, sat playing with Katie. Michelle appeared to be flirting with Wendell, something which Cam seemed to be all too aware of. The rest of the squinterns stood around talking about who knows what.
Booth wandered over to Brennan who was standing all alone behind the food table. He slipped his arms around her waist from behind, and she sank into his chest.
"What are you doing over here all by yourself?"
"Just thinking."
"About what?"
"Katie's first birthday. It looked a lot like this. Only our family wasn't here and Angela had invited all of these random people from daycare so we would have more people to talk to and avoid each other."
"That's why they were here?" Booth laughed. "So we could better avoid each other?"
Brennan nodded.
"Wow. She was such a good friend," Booth stated.
"She really was. Hard to believe that a year ago, we were barely talking to each other."
"No kidding. A part of me feels like I have just blocked that out of my memory."
"I think you should remember it. Just in case you ever feel like being mad at me again, you'll know what the consequences are."
"Oh. Right," he laughed again, nudging her.
"Hey you two!" Wendell called. "Stop being antisocial and come join the party! You can cuddle later when we all leave."
"Hey now," Booth started, stepping away from Brennan and moving to join his conversation.
Brennan shook her head and moved over to talk to her brother.
"Are these two bothering you?" she asked, gesturing to Sweets and Daisy.
"Hey!" Sweets protested.
"No, Tempe, they're fine," Russ assured her.
"Okay good. Thought I would check," she answered, placing her hand on his shoulder.
"How are you?" Russ asked, patting her hand.
"I'm good. Really good. It's the best I've been in a long time."
"I'm glad. It makes me feel better to know that after everything you've been through, you've finally managed to find happiness in your life."
"Well it wasn't easy."
"With you it never is."
She smirked and shoved him.
"Ah now there's that little sister I've been missing," he teased.
"It's your own damn fault."
Russ looked hurt for a moment, no doubt thinking back to how he had just left her.
Brennan smiled again. "I'm just kidding."
"But you don't kid," Daisy interrupted.
"People change, Miss Wick…er Mrs. Sweets…Daisy. People change, Daisy. Even the ones who are most reluctant to it."
"I'm proud of you, Dr. Brennan. A couple years ago, you never would have said that," Sweets commented.
"Being a mom has made me soft I guess."
"Do you ever think you and Booth will have kids of your own?" Amy asked.
Brennan looked back over to Booth. He was talking to Wendell still, swinging an invisible bat. He was probably discussing the Phillies' recent win which had included two home runs one of which was a grand slam. She was surprised at herself for even knowing that.
"Probably," she answered at last. "At least one."
"I'm trained in midwifery you know," Daisy offered.
"We'll uh…revisit our options when it actually becomes necessary to," Brennan countered.
"Speech!" Max called, suddenly standing up.
"What are you talking about?" Brennan sighed from ten feet away.
"You and Booth, as our hosts, should make a little speech welcoming us and what not," Max explained.
"Why?"
"Because I don't know how many more of these parties I have left in me," Pops answered. "And I enjoy a nice heartfelt message."
Booth and Brennan found each other's eyes from across the yard and they both smiled. They both headed back to the patio and everyone gathered around them on the grass. Max carried Katie over and the other kids even stopped kicking the soccer ball to listen.
"Okay well welcome," Booth started. "We'll all sing 'Happy Birthday' to Katie later when we cut the cake. Umm…why don't you take over, Bones? You're the best-selling author."
"Okay umm right. So most of us were here a year ago celebrating Katie's very first birthday. It was a different time then. Angela and Hodgins were still with us and Booth and I hated each other very much."
Light laughter rippled through the group.
Brennan continued. "So much has changed. Some things for the better and some things for the worst, but such is life. I will never forget my friends whose lives Booth and I basically took over."
More laughter.
"But I no longer let their memory eat away at me during every waking moment either. I have learned how to be happy again and I have all of you to thank for that. If I've learned anything this past year it's that life as we know it can change in an instant. And we have to stop living in the past and start living for the future. After all, no one wants to look back on their life and wonder, if only. I've spent too much time wondering 'if only' in my own life in regards to certain things and I've finally stopped. You people here are my family; by blood or by, dare I say it, fate."
Booth nudged her with his elbow, no doubt recalling their very first conversation.
"So as this next chapter of our lives begins, I want you all to be a part of it. If we all had glasses I'd suggest we raise a toast, but since we don't, let's all sing Miss Katie 'Happy Birthday' and then cut the cake!"
Random people clapped as the group broke out into song.
"Better than Cyndi Lauper," Booth whispered, heading back inside to get a knife.
Brennan smiled.
The party had ended hours ago and currently Booth and Brennan sat outside in lawn chairs, refusing to clean up. Katie was curled up asleep on Brennan's lap.
"Guess we wore her out today," Booth smirked.
"Maybe I should wake her up. If I don't she'll wake us up bright and early tomorrow."
"And here I thought you were a morning person."
She groaned, stroking Katie's fine little curls. "You know, Amy asked me today if you and I were ever going to have a baby of our own."
"Did she now? What'd you tell her?"
"I told her yes, we'd probably have at least one."
"This is news to me."
"Booth, do you want to make a baby with me?"
"Hmm, right now?"
"No, not right now, you idiot."
"Hey now. Name calling."
Brennan rolled her eyes, shaking her head. Booth reached over and took her hand in his.
"I would love to make a baby with you," he told her.
"All right. I'll put it on my to-do list."
"Bones!"
She laughed. "Perhaps we should clean up."
"Meh."
"Or we could continue to sit here doing nothing."
"I like that option."
"Do you?"
"Yes. You know, Bones, this is the start of our brand new life together."
"New memories, new life."
They smiled at each other knowing that what lay ahead of them would definitely be worth the long and agonizing journey. They had each other, a daughter, a promise for a new baby, and great friends and family. And quite honestly, what else was there? This was the end of their beginning and their start of a new, happy life.
AN: BRB, crying. But no really guys, I'm so sad this is over. This baby was my labor of love for over a year and now it's all posted and over and stuff. Thank you all so much for joining me on this angst-ridden journey. I know sometimes I was a bit too angsty, but I thrive off of writing it so…sorry. Happy ending though woo! Also, yes there was another line from Castle in this chapter. I'm sorry, but I had to. It fit perfectly.
Future stories currently in the works: A little AU "Back to the Future" type of Bones story (that I totally named The Future in the Past before that was released as the premiere title) and my first ever multi-chapter Castle fic. Stay tuned!