Update!
Snapshot 10: December 15, 2012
Booth walked into the lab a full hour before Brennan was scheduled to end her workday, carrying a small bundle in his arms with visible eyes, ears, and a nose, clutching a ratty-looking stuffed dog. He was smiling brightly as he swung Cristina from side to side and she giggled and cooed the entire time, through her bright purple scarf.
Many of the scientists working looked up to smile at the little girl and her father spinning merrily through the lab, all the way to Dr. Temperance Brennan's office, who, though they knew her as a professional and somewhat stern superior, always turned into a doting and emotional mother when it came to the little girl.
As Booth stepped into the good doctor's office, he saw that she wasn't alone. Cam was also there and she gave him a stern look when she saw him. "Seeley…" she said, in a warning tone, "You know my rules about children under the age of three in the lab."
Booth just grinned and set Cristina carefully on her feet, allowing her to toddle all the way to Cam's legs and smile up at her, though her mouth wasn't clearly visible. Her eyes lit up and she let out a very adorable, and muffled, squeal of, "Hi, Ann Cami!" Her eyes twinkled adorably, causing the usually stern pathologist to melt under her gaze.
Cam smiled and turned a glare to Booth. "That's really not fair." she complained, picking up the young child at the same time and nuzzling her nose, while the proud parents watched on in amusement. "Hi, Crissy." she said, using the same nickname that Booth used, which absolutely irked Brennan. "How are you, Baby?"
"Goo!" Cristina answered, obviously meaning 'good'.
Cam smiled and began to unwrap the small child from her scarf and hat, then removed her jacket and mittens so she didn't get overheated in the warmth of the building.
Her smile widened as soon as she came face to face with a mini-Brennan with the Booth smile, and she kissed the rosy little cheek, before placing her back on the floor.
The little girl held her puppy above her head. "Popo kiss?"
Cam smiled, searching for a clean spot on the dog's very messy head and finding one just above the left ear, kissing the spot lightly. "Hi, Popo." Cam whispered, praying that Booth and Brennan wouldn't hear her.
But, of course, they did and both chuckled to themselves. Cam sighed and said good bye to the little girl before walking to the door. "I expect those files on my desk by Monday morning, Dr. Brennan." she said on her way out.
Brennan rolled her eyes and scooped up Cristina in her arms, landing a big kiss on her cheek. "Hello, Cristina." she greeted, in an attempt to teach her daughter proper grammar. "How are you today?"
Cristina smiled up at her mother. "I good. How you?" she said, remembering what her mother told her to say.
"I am well. Thank you." Brennan said, making sure to emphasize the am and well so that her daughter might pick them up and remember to use them next time, though knowing she was probably still much too young to speak grammatically correct. Then she smiled up at Booth, who had picked up the baby's coat and accessories and was now holding them. He stood in front of her now, with a loving smile and leaned over Cristina to kiss his beautiful wife.
"Heya, Bones." he said, once he pulled back. "You ready to leave now?"
Brennan shook her head. "I have at least another hour here, Booth. You know that. Cam would be very angry if I left now."
"But you said we could go see Santa!" Booth nearly whined, pouting at her.
Brennan chuckled. "Must you sound so much like Parker? Yes, I said we could go see the fat man in red at the Mall, but he'll still be there in an hour. The mall doesn't even close until eleven. Why the rush?"
"Because I have no more work and Crissy's day is pretty much done, so we want to go see Santa. Right, baby?" he said, smiling down at the little girl in her mother's arms.
Cristina smiled, adorably showing off her dimples. "Santa!" she exclaimed.
Brennan smiled and looked up at Booth. "Cam will be very annoyed that you're making me leave early."
Booth grinned deviously. "Not when she gets a load of this. Watch." He pulled his ear and Cristina's face immediately changed into a sort of sad puppy dog expression.
"Pwease let Mama go!" she whimpered.
Brennan gasped. "Booth!" she scolded. "That's a horrible thing to teach her!"
Booth chuckled. "Really? I don't think so. I'm just using my baby girl's genius genes for the greater good. I mean, look at how good she is at that! And how adorably she does it! I mean even you probably have to suppress the urge to go, 'Awwwww!' I know I do."
Brennan smiled and rolled her eyes. "That's not the point. You shouldn't use Cristina as a ploy to get me out of work."
"Aww, come on, Bones! Just this once? Then, I promise I'll never use it again….for you, anyway."
"Who else could you possibly use it on?" Brennan asked.
Booth grinned widely. "When I scratch my nose, the Mama switches to Dada and it works on Hacker every single time."
Brennan's eyes widened in shock. "Seriously? Andrew falls for that?"
Booth nodded. "Yup. I think it also helps that she looks like a miniature version of your cute self." He leaned in to kiss her sweetly and she was smiling when he pulled back.
"I hate when you do that." she said. "You're going to make our daughter very evil."
Booth grinned mischievously. "All part of the plan, Bones." he said, scooping Cristina up into his own arms. "Come, my minion! Let's go do evil things to Auntie Cam! Muahahahaha!" He walked away and Brennan smiled at the echo of his evil laugh from the tiny girl in his arms.
"Muwaha!"
Brennan couldn't suppress the "Aww!" this time, and allowed herself that one moment to coo over her daughter's cuteness by herself as she prepared to leave the lab, knowing that Cam would definitely fall for Booth's little ploy.
And, lo and behold, Booth came in wearing a triumphantly evil smile, stroking Popo's fur, and chuckling evilly under his breath. "The plan has worked, my love. Now, let us leave with our young before her mind is changed."
Brennan chuckled and took Cristina, putting on her coat and wrapping the scarf around her neck, while Booth put on her hat and mittens. "You are very evil." she said, chuckling.
Booth laughed and wrapped an arm around her waist, bringing his lips to her ear. "Well, as long as I have my partners in crime, I'm more than okay with that." He kissed her cheek and picked up her computer bag while she carried Cristina and her baby bag out, shutting off the lights and closing the door on her way out.
"Only three more people, Bones!" Booth said, excitedly, gripping her hand.
Brennan laughed. "Calm down, Booth. It's just a man in a red suit, with a fake beard."
Booth glared at her. "Shhh!" he scolded. "Not in front of Crissy! I want her to believe in Santa until she's at least twelve."
"Twelve?" Brennan asked. "That seems a bit old. Parker said he stopped believing when he was nine."
"Okay, yeah, well then nine for Crissy too. Just want her to believe for as long as possible." He cradled the baby in his big arms. She'd long shed her coat and scarf, both being stuffed in the under compartment of her stroller. Popo was in her arms and her hat was still nestled on her head, little curls of auburn hair sticking out. She looked up at him with a big smile, reaching up to rub his cheek with her tiny hand.
Booth's smile widened and his brown eyes sparkled down at her. He leaned down and kissed her cheek, forgetting about the line they were in until they were next to see the fat man, himself.
When he looked up, his giddiness came right back as he realized that they were next. "Look, Crissy!" he said. "It's Santa!"
Cristina turned her body to look at the man in red. "Santa?" she asked. Tilting her head slightly, much like her mother was prone to do.
Booth smiled, excitedly. "Uh-huh! Santa! He brings you toys and stuff on Christmas! You're gonna take a picture with him. You gotta tell him what you want and he'll bring it to you. Okay?"
Cristina nodded, still not quite understanding. As they were called up next, Booth practically dragged Brennan inside and smiled at the man playing Santa, as he introduced him to Cristina, and Brennan put the stroller to the side, by the exit, before rejoining them, smiling as Cristina was placed in the man's arms and immediately began babbling to him in her baby speak, the man pretending to understand what she was talking about.
"Mmhmm," he said, "Of course. Most definitely." he said, smiling down at her. "You've been a good little girl this year so there's no reason you shouldn't get all that."
Brennan scoffed under her breath, eying Booth, who was smiling evilly. He pulled her over beside Santa's chair and wrapped his arms around her.
"Hey, Bones," he said. "Look up. Anything strike you as familiar?"
Brennan glanced up, smiling once she noticed the little green twig above them. She looked back at her husband. "Mistletoe." she said, smiling, remembering their blackmail kiss all those years ago.
Booth nodded before leaning in to kiss her softly, but passionately on the lips. When they pulled back, they were both smiling lovingly at each other, and only turned their heads when a small female elf asked them to look her way for a picture.
They both smiled at Cristina, who was giving her full thousand-watt Booth charm smile for the camera, clutching Popo in her arms, a tiny tuft of auburn hair half-covering her right eye.
Booth and Brennan didn't let go of their hold of each other for the picture and it came out looking perfect, describing their family the way words never could.
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Btw, congratulate me! I got my learner's permit! Only four more months and I can get my Senior license!